CHAPTER XV
RED FALERNIAN
Caesar's eye, though dim and sunken, flashed up for a moment with a sparkof enthusiasm.
"The beccaficoes," said he, "were a thought over-seasoned, but the capon'sliver stewed in milk was perfection. Varus, see that it is served again atthe imperial table within the week."
The freedman took out his tablets and made a note of the royal commandswith a somewhat unsteady hand, while Vitellius, draining his cup to thedregs, smacked his lips, and let his great chin sink on his breast oncemore.
The other guests conversed freely. Licinius and one of the senators wereinvolved in an argument on military matters, with which the man of peaceseemed almost as conversant as the man of war, and on which he laid downthe law with far more confidence. Placidus was describing certainincidents of the campaign in Judaea, with an air of unassuming modesty anda deference to the opinions of others, which won him no little favour fromthose who sat near and listened, throwing in, every now and then, a chanceexpression or trifling anecdote, derogatory, by implication, toVespasian's military skill, and eulogistic of Vitellius; for this reasondoubly sweet in the ears of him at whose board the tribune sat. Montanus,whose cup was filled and emptied with startling rapidity, looked about himfor a subject on which to vent some of the sarcasm with which he wascharged, and found it in the woebegone appearance of Spado, who, despitethe influence of food and wine, seemed unusually depressed and ill atease. The eunuch on ordinary occasions was a prince of boon-companions,skilled in all the niceties of gastronomy, versed in the laws of drinking,overflowing with mirth and jollity, an adroit flatterer where flattery wasacceptable, and a joyous buffoon who could give and take with equalreadiness and good-humour, when banter was the order of the day. Now, lessthirsty than usual, the feast seemed to have no enlivening effect on hisdisposition. He was silent, preoccupied, and, to all appearance, intentonly on concealing his bruised cheek from the observation of those abouthim. He had never been struck in anger, never even stood face to face witha man before, and it had cowed him. The soft self-indulgent voluptuarycould neither forget nor overcome his feelings of combined wrath, dismay,and shame. Montanus turned round and emptied a brimming goblet to hishealth.
"You are cheerless to-night, man!" quoth the senator; "you drink not,neither do you speak. What, has the red Falernian lost its flavour? or hassome Canidia bewitched you with her evil eye? You used to be a prince ofboon-companions, Spado, thirsty as a camel in the Libyan desert, insatiateas the sand on which he travels, and now your eye is dull, your facedejected, and your cup stands untasted, unnoticed, though bubbling to thebrim. By the spear of Bacchus, 'tis not the fault of the liquor!" andMontanus emptied his own goblet with the air of a man who thoroughlyappreciated the vintage he extolled.
Vitellius looked up for an instant, roused by the congenial theme.
"There is nothing the matter with the wine," said Caesar. "Fill round."
The imperial hint was not to be disregarded, and Spado, with a forcedsmile, put his goblet to his lips and drained it to the last drop. Indoing so the discoloration of his face was very apparent; and the guests,who had now arrived at that stage of conviviality where candour takes theplace of politeness, proceeded to make their remarks without reserve.
"You have painted too thick," said one of the freedmen, alluding to aneffeminacy of the times which the male sex were not ashamed to practise.
"You have taken off the paste and the skin with it," continued the other,whose own mistress was in the daily habit of spreading a kind of poulticeover her whole countenance, and who might therefore be a good judge of theprocess and its results.
"You have been in the wars!" sneered one guest. "Or the amphitheatre!"echoed another. "'Tis a love-token from Chloe!" laughed a third. "Or aremembrance from Lydia!" added a fourth. "Nay," interposed Montanus, "ourfriend is too experienced a campaigner to come off second-best with a foeof that description. There must have been a warm encounter to leave suchtraces as those. She must have been a very Amazon, Spado, that could maulthee thus."
The eunuch looked from one to another of his tormentors with rather anevil smile. He well knew, however, that any appearance of annoyance wouldadd tenfold to the ridicule which he must make up his mind to undergo, andthat the best way for a man to turn a jest, even when to his owndisadvantage, is to join in it himself; so he glanced at the Emperor, tooka long draught of red Falernian, and assumed a face of quaint and good-humoured self-commiseration.
"Talk not to me of Amazons," said he, whereat there was a general laugh."Tell me not of Chloes, and Lydias, and Lalages, and the rest. What's aHelen of Troy compared to a flask of this red Falernian? Why good winegets better the longer you keep it, while woman loses her flavour year byyear. 'Faith, if you only wait till she is old enough, she becomes verysour vinegar indeed. Even in the first flush of her beauty, I doubtwhether any of you in your hearts think she is worth the trouble ofcatching. Still, you know, a man likes to look at a pretty face. Mine hadnot otherwise been so disfigured now. I had an adventure on that score buttwo nights ago. Would Caesar like to hear it?"
Caesar gave a nod and a grunt that signified acquiescence. Thus encouraged,Spado went on--
"It was the feast of Isis. I was coming from the worship of the goddess,and the celebration of those sacred rites, which may not be disclosed tothe vulgar and the profane--mysteries too holy to be mentioned, save topure and virgin ears." Here the countenance of Montanus assumed anexpression that made even Caesar smile, and caused the rest to laughoutright. "The procession was returning filled with inspiration from thegoddess. The acolytes leaping and dancing in the van, the priests marchingmajestically under her symbols, and some of the noblest matrons in Romebringing up the rear. The noblest and the fairest," repeated Spado,glancing round him complacently. "I name no names; but you all know thatours is not a vulgar worship, nor an illiberal creed."
Here Placidus stirred somewhat uneasily on his couch, and buried his facein his cup.
"The Roman people have ever paid the highest honours to our Egyptiangoddess," proceeded the eunuch; "we lack the support of the plebeian nomore than the worship of the patrician. Thus we flourish and draindraughts of plenty from the silver udders of our sacred cow. Well, theymade way for us in the streets, both men and women--all but one slendergirl dressed in black, who, coming quickly round a corner, found herselfin the midst of us, and seemed too frightened to move. In another minuteshe would have been trampled to death by the crowd, when I seized hold ofher in order to draw her into a place of safety while they passed."
"Or to see what sort of a face she hid under her black hood?" interruptedMontanus.
"Not so," replied the narrator, though obviously gratified by theimpeachment. "Such follies I leave to senators, and statesmen, andsoldiers. My object was simply to afford her my protection. I had betterhave plucked a nettle with my naked hand. The girl screamed and struggledas if she had never looked in a man's face before."
"She was frightened at your beard," said one of the freedmen, looking atSpado's smooth fat face. The latter winced, but affected not to hear."Coax a frightened woman," said he, "and frighten an angry one. I flattermyself I know how to deal with them all. The girl would have been quietenough had I been let alone; when just as she began to look kindly in myface, up comes an enormous barbarian, a hideous giant with waving yellowhair, and tries to snatch the maiden by main force from my grasp. I am astrong man, as you may perhaps have observed, my friends, and a fierce onewhen my blood is up. I showed fight. I struck him to the earth. He roseagain with redoubled fury, and taking me at a disadvantage while I wasprotecting the girl, inflicted this injury on my face. I was stunned foran instant, and he seized that opportunity to make his escape. Well forhim that he did so. Let him keep out of the way if he be wise. Should hecross my path again, he had better be in Euchenor's hands than mine; Iwill show him no mercy;" and Spado quaffed off his wine and squared hisfat shoulders with th
e air of a gladiator.
"And what became of the girl?" asked Paris, who had hitherto listened tothe recital with utter indifference.
"She was carried off by the barbarian," replied Spado. "Poor thing! Ibelieve sorely against her will. Nevertheless, she was borne off by theBriton."
"A Briton!" exclaimed Licinius, whose intense contempt for Spado hadhitherto kept him silent, and who had already heard the truth of the storyfrom his slave.
"A Briton," repeated the eunuch. "It was impossible he could be otherwisefrom his size and ferocity. The Gaul, you see, is bigger than the Roman.The German than the Gaul. The Briton, by the same argument, must be biggerthan the German; and this hideous giant must consequently have been one ofthose savage islanders. I take my logic from the Greeks."
"But not your boxing, it seems," observed Montanus, "We must have Euchenorto give you some lessons, if you run your head into these street brawlswhenever you come across a woman with a veil."
"Nay," answered the eunuch, "he took me at a disadvantage; nevertheless hewas a large and powerful athlete--there is no denying it."
"They are the finest men we have in the empire," said Licinius, thinkingin his heart that the women were the fairest too.
"Their oysters are better than ours," observed Caesar, with an air ofprofound and impartial judgment.
"I grant the oysters, but I deny the men," said Placidus, reflecting thathis patriotism would be acceptable to his audience. "The Roman is thenatural conqueror of the world. They cannot stand against our countrymenin the arena." The guests all joined in a cordial assent. Had it not beenso, perhaps Licinius would have scarce thought it worth while to continuethe argument. Now, though half ashamed of his warmth, he took up thematter with energy.
"There is a Briton in my house at this moment," said he, "who is astronger and finer man than you will produce in Rome."
"You mean that long-legged lad with the mop of light hair?" said Placiduscontemptuously. "I have seen him. I call him a boy, not a man."
Licinius felt somewhat irritated. He did not particularly like hiscompany; and between two such opposite natures as his own and thetribune's there existed a certain hidden repugnance, which was sure sooneror later to break forth. He answered angrily--
"I will match him against any one you can produce to run, leap, wrestle,throw the quoit, and swim."
"Those are a boy's accomplishments," retorted the other coolly. "What Imaintain is this, that, whether from want of courage or skill or both,these islanders are of no use with the steel. I would wish no better sportthan to fight him myself in the arena, with the permission of Caesar"--andthe tribune bowed gracefully to his imperial host, who looked from one tothe other of the disputants, without the slightest apparent interest intheir discussion.
At this period of the Empire, when, although manners had become utterlydissolute, something was still left of the old audacity that had made theRoman a conqueror wherever he planted his foot, it was by no means unusualfor men of patrician rank to appear in their own proper persons, aspectacle for the vulgar, in the amphitheatre. It was, perhaps, notunnatural that a desire for imitation should at last be aroused by theexcessive fondness for these games of bloodshed, which pervaded allclasses of the community. We have nothing in modern times that can at allconvey to us the passion of the Roman citizen for the amusements of hiscircus. They were as necessary to his existence as daily bread. _Panem etCircenses_ had passed into a familiar proverb. He would leave his home,neglect his business, forfeit his bath, to sit for hours on the benches ofthe amphitheatre, exposed to heat and crowding, and every sort ofinconvenience, and would bring his food with him rather than run the riskof losing his place. And all this to see trained gladiators shedding eachother's blood, wild beasts tearing foreign captives limb from limb, andimitation battles which differed in no respect from real, save that thewounded were not spared, and the slaughter consequently far greater inproportion to the number of combatants engaged. If a statesman wished tocourt popularity, if an emperor desired to blot out a whole page ofenormities and crimes, he had but to give the people one of these freeentertainments of blood--the more victims the better--and they were ready toapprove of any measure, and to pardon any atrocity.
Ere long some fierce spirits panted to take part in the sports they soloved to contemplate; and the disgraceful exhibition ceased to be confinedto hireling gladiators or condemned slaves. Knights and patricians enteredthe arena, to contend for the praises of the vulgar; and the noblest bloodin Rome was shed for the gratification of plebeian spectators, who,sitting at ease munching cakes and sausages, could contemplate with placidinterest the death-agonies of the Cornelii or the Gracchi.
Julius Placidus, like many other fashionable youths of the period, pridedhimself on his skill in the deadly exercises of the circus. He hadappeared before the Roman public at different times, armed with all thevarious weapons of the gladiator; but the exercise in which he consideredhimself most perfect was that of the trident and the net. The contestbetween the _retiarius_ and the _secutor_ was always a favourite spectaclewith the public. The former carried an ample casting-net upon hisshoulders, a three-pronged spear in his hand; beyond this he was totallyunarmed either for attack or defence. The latter with a short sword,vizored helmet, and oblong shield, would at first sight appear to havefought at great advantage over his opponent. Nevertheless the arts of the_retiarius_ in entangling his adversary had arrived at such perfectionthat he was constantly the conqueror. Once down, and involved in the fatalmeshes, there was no escape for the swordsman; and from some whimsicalreason the populace seldom granted him quarter when vanquished. Greatactivity and speed of foot were the principal qualities required by the_retiarius_, for if he failed in his cast he was compelled to fly from hisadversary while preparing his net for a fresh attempt, and if overtakenhis fate was sealed. Placidus possessed extraordinary personal activity.His eye was very correct, and his throw generally deadly. It may be, too,that there was something pleasing to the natural cruelty of hisdisposition in the contemplation of an antagonist writhing and helpless onthe sand. It was his delight to figure in the arena with the deadly netlaid in careful festoons upon his shoulder, and the long barbed tridentquivering in his grasp, Licinius fell into the snare, if snare it was,readily enough.
"I would wager a province on Esca," said he, "against anyone but a trainedgladiator; and I think he could hold his own with the best of _them_,after a month's practice."
"Then you accept my challenge?" exclaimed Placidus, with a studiedcarelessness of manner that dissembled an eagerness he could scarcelycontrol.
"Let us hear the terms over a fresh flask of Falernian," observed theEmperor, glad of such a stimulant with his wine.
"I ask for no weapons but the trident and the net," said Placidus, lookingfixedly at Licinius. "Esca, if you so call him, may be armed as usual withsword and helmet."
"And shield," interrupted the other; too old a soldier, even in theexcitement of the moment, to throw a chance away.
Placidus affected to demur.
"Well," said he, after a few moments' hesitation, "'tis but a youngswordsman, and a barbarian; I give you the shield in."
A vision crossed the brain of Licinius, that already made him repent ofhis rashness. He saw the fine form writhing in those pitiless meshes, likea beast taken in the toils. He saw the frank blue eyes, looking upward,brave and kindly even in their despair. He saw the unsparing arm raised tostrike, and the bright curling locks dabbled all in blood. But then heremembered the Briton's extraordinary strength and activity, his naturalcourage and warlike education--he was irritated, too, by the insolentmalice that gleamed in the tribune's eyes; and he persuaded himself thatnothing but renown and triumph could accrue to his favourite from such acontest.
"Be it so," said he; "_retiarius_ and _secutor_. You will have no child'splay, I can tell you; and now for the terms of the wager. I stake no man'slife against a morsel of tinsel or a few polished pebbles, I warn you atonce."
He glance
d while he spoke, somewhat contemptuously, over the costlyornaments that decorated the tribune's dress. The latter laughed good-humouredly.
"A dozen slaves would scarce fetch the value of my sleeve-clasps. Atleast, a dozen of these islanders, whom you may capture by scores everytime a legion moves its camp. Listen, I will wager two of my white horsesagainst your picture of Daphne, or the bust of Euphrosyne that stands inyour bath-room. Nay, I will give you more advantage still. I will stakethe whole team, and the chariot into the bargain, against the Britishslave himself!"
Again had the other been watching him narrowly; he must have perceived astrange suppressed eagerness on the tribune's face, but he was preoccupiedand annoyed; he had gone too far to retract, and a murmur from thelistening guests denoted their opinion of the generosity displayed in thislast proposal. When a man has placed himself in a false position, hisefforts at extrication generally plunge him deeper than before. Quick aslightning, Licinius bethought him that the present bargain might probablysave Esca's life, in the unlikely event of his being conquered, so heclosed with it unhesitatingly, though he regretted doing so a momentafterwards.
The match was accordingly made upon the following terms: That Esca shouldenter the amphitheatre during the approaching games of Ceres, armed withsword, shield, and helmet, to oppose Placidus, whose only weapons were tobe the trident and the net. That in the event of the latter being worsted,his four white horses and gilded chariot should become the property ofLicinius; but that if he obtained the victory, and the populace permittedhim to spare the vanquished, then his late antagonist should become hisslave; and how enviable would be that position could only be known to thetribune himself and one other person from whom he had that day receivedkinder looks and smiles than she had ever before granted to an unwelcomesuitor.
The business of drinking, which had been somewhat interrupted by thesecomplicated discussions, was now resumed with greater energy than before;Placidus emptying his goblet with the triumphant air of one who hassuccessfully accomplished a difficult task; Licinius like a man who seeksto drown anxiety and self-reproach in wine. The Emperor quaffed andquaffed again with his habitual greediness; and the remainder of theguests acted studiously in imitation of the Emperor.
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